What is Etxepare?

In 1545, Bernart Etxepare wrote a book entitled Linguae Vasconum Primitae, the first one written in Basque language. This earliest work of literature in Euskara established a wish for our language:

Heuscara ialgui adi campora(Euskara, go forth into the streets)

Heuscara ialgui adi plaçara(Euskara, go forth into the squares)

Heuscara ialgui adi mundura(Euskara, go forth into the world)

The Etxepare Basque Institute was created with this wish in mind and its mission is to spread the Basque language and culture throughout the world.

The Etxepare Basque Institute is an ambassador for our language and culture abroad, and encourages the international diffusion of the Basque language (Euskara) and Basque artists of all disciplines: from Basque literature to the performing arts, and including cinema, sculpture, painting and music.

Yet in place of the classic model of a grand institute, we want to be a versatile institute which moves freely through an interconnected world, capable of making the most of the power of networks and adapting to specific demands. Developing our own cultural expressions and encouraging dialogue with other cultures is crucial to achieving this goal.

We Basques are open to the world, for centuries we’ve learned a great deal from the outside world and we can still learn much more. Yet, as the well-known 19th century musician José María Iparragirre said, we must also give and extend our fruits throughout the world; we want to make the world more Basque, and the Basque Country more universal.

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